KATHMANDU, Feb. 8 -- Right in the heart of the bustling Kathmandu lies a sanctuary of sorts for a very rare breed of people: Mandala Book Point. In one recent afternoon, at his beloved book store, Madhav Lal Maharjan sits comfortably among the towering stacks of books in the storage room - the very place he sat when he started Mandala Book Store 29 years ago in 1988.

"A lot has changed since I started, with technology, with people and the world. Everything changes," he shared. His store and its book collection are no exception.

Buffeted by a massive spike in demand for books and the growing reading culture, it is safe to say, at least for now, that the store has had worse days.

Over the last few years, the readership habit, especially ...